Shabbat

Dear Rabbi Simon Can one go to an amusement park on shabbat if they already paid for the ticket and are walking back and forth to the park? Thanks Sara Dear Sara, As a matter of principle, it is difficult to approve of attending an amusement park on Shabbat, as doing so is not in the keeping of the spirit…

Dear Rabbi Simon You recently mentioned that in times of need, eg hotel/hospitals etc, one can fulfil the mitzvah of nerot Shabbat (Shabbos candles) by making the berachah on electric lights. Can this be used at home where a person misses candle lighting time and therefore can’t strike a match – say a person oversleeps or forgets etc, can she…

Dear Rabbi Simon, I have a halachic question: I have a meat Teflon saucepan that by mistake I washed in a dairy dishwasher. Shall I toss it or keep it? Thank you. Suzy Dear Suzy There is no need to discard your saucepan. I would recommend kashering it by filling it near to the top with water then heating it…

Dear Rabbi Simon, My wife is temporarily living in Florida. Do I have to light Shabbos candles in New York if my wife lights in Florida? Ira Dear Ira Thank you for your practical question. The simple answer is yes, you should light in NY even though your wife is also lighting Shabbos candles where she is (in Florida). However,…

Dear Rabbi Simon, A small Shabbat question Shabbat: If a picture was taken by a Jew on Shabbat, is it verboten to enjoy it and share it with other Jews on a week day? Toby Dear Toby, Strictly speaking in most cases this would be allowed, as the photographer may be presumed to have acted out of ignorance of or…

Dear Rabbi Simon I read in the excellent book we use at Seudah Shelishit at Kesher, Learn Shabbos in 3 Minutes a Day that one may use a saltshaker on Shabbos, but not one into which grains of rice have been placed, as the tiny holes act as a sieve, releasing the salt granules but holding back the rice (Borer,…

Dear Rabbi Simon I wonder if you could answer this question: I have just bought the below slow cooker. It has a setting to keep food warm. Would it be ok to leave the setting on “warm” and keep the cooker plugged in on Shabbat? Or do I need to use a timer to make sure it’s not permanently switched on? https://www.robertdyas.co.uk/tower-1-5l-stainless-steel-slow-cooker-silver…